All countries need to join efforts to ensure food security: Nazarbayev

The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has stressed the importance of all countries joining their efforts to ensure global food security, Tengrinews reports citing the press office of Akorda. He talked about global food security during the opening ceremony of the National Day of Kazakhstan at the EXPO-2015 in Milan with its core theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. 

"Amid the challenges of the 21st century, the food security remains to be of utmost importance given the fact that in the next three decades the world's food consumption will double, and we need to be prepared for that. All nations need to join efforts to overcoming this problem," Nursultan Nazarbayev declared.

He pointed out that Kazakhstan was already making a significant contribution to the global food security. "Our country, along with Australia and Canada, are the world's leaders in terms of the area of arable land per capita. The total area of agricultural land in Kazakhstan is 215 million hectares, which is more than 4 percent of the world's resources. The diversity of nature, climatic conditions and natural soil allows us to be competitive food producers for the planet. Kazakhstan is among the world's ten largest wheat exporters and in the top five exporters of flour. Every year it exports up to 6 million tons of grain to Asian countries and up to 2 million to the European Union. Overall, Kazakhstan exports (wheat) to 70 countries," Nazarbayev said.

Kazakhstan has been conducting a vigorous work to enhance the potential of its agricultural sector by implementing the Agribusiness-2020 program as well as attracting major multinational companies into its processing sector. The Kazakh leader also stressed that Kazakhstan had been actively integrating into the international community to become one of the major food suppliers in the world market.

"We are working now on exporting up to 60 thousand tons of meat. We take part in the implementation of China's project aimed at creation the Silk Road Economic Belt. Establishment of a Eurasian transcontinental corridor was discussed during the Astana Economic Forum," Nazarbayev said.

Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan's pavilion at the EXPO-2015 entitled Kazakhstan. The Country of Opportunities provides information on the biological diversity of the country's regions and their agricultural and industrial traditions as well as advanced technologies and high environmental standards currently being introduced in Kazakhstan.

"Particular attention is paid to the upcoming EXPO-2017 entitled Future Energy, which will be held in Astana. Like food security, energy security is one of the most important areas of international cooperation. I am convinced that the dialogue that started in Milan will boost the cooperation between countries, international organizations and businesses and will continue in Astana," Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

Kazakhstan's President emphasized that not only the exhibition in Milan provided an effective dialogue platform to discuss food security, but also offered an excellent opportunity to learn about the traditions and culture of other countries.

"The participants and guests will be able to get a feel of our ancient culture and rich history, learn more about the achievements and plans of modern Kazakhstan and appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of the Kazakh national cuisine. I am sure that having learnt more about our country you would definitely like to visit Kazakhstan in 2017," he said.

At the end, Nursultan Nazarbayev invited everyone to the upcoming exhibition in Astana and wished success to the EXPO-2015.

By Assel Satubaldina